• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1101-1107
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• 2013

In this study, total mercury and methyl mercury in whole blood of Korean was analyzed so as to investigate the correlation between total mercury (T-Hg) and methyl mercury (Me-Hg). 4000 whole blood samples were divided in four groups, according to T-Hg concentration in percentile: group I (p25-p50), group II (p50-p75), group III (p75-p95) and group IV (p95-p100). 100 samples were randomly selected from the each group, and Me-Hg concentration was measured. T-Hg concentration in whole blood was analyzed using a Direct Mercury Analyzer-80 and obtained limit of detection (LOD) was $0.2{\mu}gL^{-1}$. Me-Hg concentration was analyzed with ethylate derivatization using headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and obtained LOD of methyl mercury was $0.5{\mu}gL^{-1}$. The geometric means of T-Hg and Me-Hg were $6.35{\mu}gL^{-1}$ and $4.44{\mu}gL^{-1}$, respectively, and 71.91% of T-Hg was presented as Me-Hg.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.180-183
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• 2007

Over the last century the mercury (Hg) concentration in the environment has been increased by human activities with inputs from sources such as atmospheric deposition, urban runoff, and industrial effluents. Mercury can be transformed to methylmercury (MeHg) in anaerobic conditions by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and sediments are the principal location for MeHg production in aquatic environments. Interest in bioaccumulation of Hg and MeHg into lower trophic levels of benthic and pelagic organisms stems from public health concerns as these organisms provide essential links for higher trophic levels of food chains such as fish and larger invertebrates. Fish consumption is the major exposure route of MeHg to humans. Recently, it was reported that blood samples in Korea showed much higher Hg levels (5-8 times) than those in USA and Germany. Although this brings much attention to Hg research in Korea, there are very few studies on Hg biogeochemical cycling and bioaccumulation in aquatic environments. Given the importance of Hg methylation and MeHg transfer through food chains in aquatic environments, it is imperative that studies should be done in much detail looking at the fate, transport, and bioaccumulation of Hg and MeHg in the environment. Moreover, there should be long-term monitoring plans in Korea to evaluate the environmental and health effects of Hg and MeHg.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.693-703
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• 2008

The important source of the mercury in water-column is the influx of atmosphere mercury, via dry and wet deposition. In this study, wet deposition of mercury was estimated to be $14.56{\mu}g/m^2$ during 15 months at the Lake Soyang, which is a little higher than those observed in the several rural US Mercury Deposition Network (MDN) sites with similar precipitation depth. The mercury concentration in precipitation did not show a positive correlation with atmospheric RGM (reactive gaseous mercury) concentration, while maintaining good correlation with atmospheric $PM_{2.5}$ at Soyang Dam. This result suggests that the contribution of particulate Hg to the total Hg wet deposition should be more significant than that of RGM. In this study, both precipitation depth and precipitation type affected the amount of wet deposition and the concurrent mercury levels in precipitation. There was generally an inverse relationship between precipitation depth and Hg concentration in precipitation. Precipitation type was another factor that exerted controls on the Hg concentration in precipitation. As a result, the highest concentration of Hg was observed in snow, followed by in mixture (snow+rain) and in rain.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.335-343
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• 2012

Mercury is emitted to the atmosphere from various natural and anthropogenic sources, and degrades with difficulty in the environment. Mercury exists as various species, mainly elemental ($Hg^0$) and divalent ($Hg^{2+}$) mercury depending on its oxidation states in air and water. Mercury emitted to the atmosphere can be deposited into aqueous environments by wet and dry depositions, and some can be re-emitted into the atmosphere. The deposited mercury species, mainly $Hg^{2+}$, can react with various organic compounds in water and sediment by biotic reactions mediated by sulfur-reducing bacteria, and abiotic reactions mediated by sunlight photolysis, resulting in conversion into organic mercury such as methylmercury (MeHg). MeHg can be bioaccumulated through the food web in the ecosystem, finally exposing humans who consume fish. For a better understanding of how humans are exposed to mercury in the environment, this review paper summarizes the mechanisms of emission, fate and transport, speciation chemistry, bioaccumulation, levels of contamination in environmental media, and finally exposure assessment of humans.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.215-220
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• 2012

The effects of inorganic mercury on hematological parameters and hepatic oxidative stress enzyme activity were studied in olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Fish were injected twice intraperitoneally with mercuric chloride (2, 4, or 8 mg Hg/kg BW). The major hematological findings were significant decreases in the red blood cell count, hematocrit value, and hemoglobin level in olive flounder exposed to 8 mg Hg/kg BW. Remarkably low levels of calcium and chloride, and reduced osmolality, were also observed at 8 mg Hg/kg BW. In hepatic tissue, significant increases in glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity were observed above 4 mg Hg/kg BW Inorganic mercury also increased glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase activity at 8 mg Hg/kg BW in hepatic tissue. The present findings suggest that exposure to a low concentration (${\geq}4$ mg Hg/kg BW) of inorganic mercury can cause significant changes in hematological and antioxidant parameters.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.261-269
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• 2014

This study focused on the performance of the newly developed hybrid filter system to capture fine particulate matter and mercury compounds in a coal-fired power plant. The hybrid filter system combining bag-filter and electrostatic precipitator had been developed to remove fine particulate matter. However, it would have a good performance to control mercury compounds as well. In Hybrid filter capture system, the total removal efficiency of total mercury compounds consisting of particulate mercury ($Hg_p$), oxidized mercury ($Hg^{2+}$), and elemental mercury ($Hg^0$) was 66.2%. The speciation of mercury compounds at inlet and outlet of Hybrid filter capture system were 1.3% and 0% of $Hg_p$, 85.2% and 68.1% of $Hg^0$, and 13.5% and 31.9% of $Hg^{2+}$, respectively. In hybrid filter capture system injected with 100% of flue-gas, the removal efficiency of total mercury was calculated to increase to 93.5%.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 1980

Purpose of this study is to find out proper means of estimating the urinary mercury excretion in the normal individuals. Whole void volume was collected every 2 hours beginning from 6 o'clock in the morning until 6 o'clock next morning. Mercury excretion in each urine specimen was measured by NIOSH recommended dithizone colorimetric method (Method No.: P & CAM 145). Urinary concentration of mercury was adjusted by two means: specific gravity of 1.024 and a gram of creatinine excretion per liter of urine comparing the data with the unadjusted ones. Mercury excretion in 24-hour urine specimen was calculated by adding the amounts measured with the hourly collected specimens of each individual. Statistical analysis of the urinary mercury excretion revealed the following results: 1. Frequency distribution curve of mercury excreted in urine of hourly specimens was best fitted to power function expressed in the form of $y=ax^b$. Adjustment of the urinary mercury concentration by creatinine excretion was shown to be superior($y=1674x^{-1.52},\;r^2=0.95$) over nonadjustment($y=2702x^{-1.57},\;r^2=0.92$) and adjustment by specific gravity of 1.024($y=4535x^{-1.66},\;r^2=0.93$). 2. Both log-transformed mercury excretion in hourly voided specimens and mercury excretion itself in 24 hour specimens showed the normal distributions. 3. The frequency distribution of mercury adjusting the urinary concentration of mercury by creatinine excretion was best fitted to a theoretical normal distribution with the sample means and standard deviation than those unadjusted or adjusted with specific gravity of 1.024. 4. Average urinary mercury excretions in 24-hour urine specimen in an individual were as follows: a) Unadjusted mercury excretion mean and standard deviation : $$18.6{\pm}13.68{\mu}gHg/l$$. median : $$16.0\;{\mu}gHg/l$$. range : $$0.0-55.10\;{\mu}gHg/l$$. b) Adjusted with specific gravity mean : $$20.7{\pm}11.76\;{\mu}gHg/l{\times}\frac{0.024}{S.G-1.000}$$ median : $$20.7\;{\mu}gHg/l{\times}\frac{0.024}{S.G-1.000}$$ range : $$0.0-52.9\;{\mu}gHg/l{\times}\frac{0.024}{S.G-1.000}$$ c) Adjusted with creatinine excretion mean and standard deviation : $$10.5{\pm}6.98\;{\mu}gHg/g$$ creatinine/l median : $$9.4\;{\mu}gHg/g$$ creatinine/l range : $$0.0-26.7\;{\mu}gHg/g$$ creatinine/l 5. No statistically significant differences were found between means calculated from 24-hour urine specimens and those from hourly specimens transformed into logarithmic values. (P<0.05).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.358-360
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• 2014

For the several decades, various nanomaterials are broadly used in industry and research. With the growth of nanotechnology, the study of nanotoxicity is being accelerated. Particularly, mercury ion is widely used in real life. Because the mercury is representative high toxic material, it is highly recommended to detect the mercury ion. In previous reported work, thymine-thymine mismatches (T-T) capture mercury ion and create very stable base pair ($T-Hg^{2+}-T$). Here, we performed the high sensitive sensing method for direct label free detection of mercury ions and DNA binding using Kelvin Probe Force Microscope (KPFM). In this method, 30 base pairs of thymine (T-30) is used for mercury specific DNA binding ($T-Hg^{2+}-T$). KPFM is able to detect the mercury ion because there is difference between bare T-30 DNA and mercury mediated DNA ($T-Hg^{2+}-T$).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.439-442
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• 2007

A solid state Hg(Au)/HgO reference electrode was prepared utilizing gold amalgam solid particles. Solid fine powder of the gold amalgam was prepared by chemical reduction of Au(III) with NaBH4 followed by reduction of Hg(II) in the presence of gold fine particles. The solid content in the suspension of the gold amalgam particles and fine mercury oxide particles in DMF containing PVC was precipitated by the addition of a large amount of water to give solid Hg(Au)/HgO/PVC mixture. After drying, the mixture was pressure-molded to a physically stable Hg(Au)/HgO composite reference electrode material. The electrochemical characteristics of the electrode as a reference electrode were very similar to an ordinary Hg/HgO reference electrode. The electrode material can be molded and fabricated in any desired shape and size. The surface can be renewed by a simple polishing process whenever contaminated or deactivated. The applicability of the electrode in the electrochemical detection of carbohydrates after anion exchange separation was evaluated.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.269-276
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• 2014

This study was aimed to develop catalytic system for the dry-based reduction of oxidized mercury ($Hg^{2+}$) to elemental mercury ($Hg^0$) which is one of the most important components comprising mercury continuous emission monitoring system (Hg-CEMS). Based on the standard potential in oxidation-reduction reaction, transition metals including Fe, Cu, Ni and Co were selected as possible candidates for catalyst proceeding spontaneous reduction of $Hg^{2+}$ into $Hg^0$. These transition metal catalysts revealed high activity for reduction of $Hg^{2+}$ into $Hg^0$ in the absence of oxygen in reactant gases. However, their activities were greatly decreased in the presence of oxygen, which was attributed to the transformation of transition metals by oxygen to the corresponding transition metal oxides with less catalytic activity for the reduction of oxidized mercury. Hydrogen supplied to the reactant gases significantly enhanced $Hg^{2+}$ reduction activity even in the presence of oxygen. It might be due to occurrence of combustion reaction between $H_2$ and $O_2$ causing the consumption of $O_2$ at such high reaction temperature at which oxidized mercury reduction reaction took place. Because the system showed high activity for $Hg^{2+}$ reduction to $Hg^0$, which was compatible to that of wet-chemistry technology using $SnCl_2$ solution, the catalytic reduction system of Fe catalyst with the supply of $H_2$ could be employed as a commercial system for the reduction of oxidized mercury to elemental mercury.